Turkey part of diplomacy for Qatar crisis

A number of nations, including Turkey, have been engaged in intense diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the escalating crisis between Qatar and a group of Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with the leaders of Qatar, Russia, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in a bid to ease the crisis, presidential sources said late on June 5.

"The importance of regional peace and stability was underlined in the talks, as well as the importance of focusing on the path of diplomacy and dialogue to lower the current tension," they added.

The Saudi-led group cut ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing the gas-rich Gulf country of supporting extremism. Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and the Maldives joined the bloc in severing relations with Qatar, accusing Doha of harboring "terrorist and sectarian groups that aim to destabilize the region including the Muslim Brotherhood, Daesh [the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - ISIL] and al-Qaeda."

After the talks between Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said both leaders called for "dialogue and compromise."

"The two presidents discussed the developments around Qatar and called on all interested countries to engage in dialogue with a view to reaching a compromise for the sake of preserving peace and stability in the Persian Gulf area," the Kremlin said in a statement.

"It was emphasized that the grave crisis in the Middle East requires well-orchestrated efforts and close coordination of the international community in fighting the terrorist threat," it added.

The president also spoke with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and the emirs of Qatar and Kuwait. 

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